We are seeking a visionary Chief Executive Officer with exceptional leadership qualities to spearhead our charity, Concrete Garden, though a new and exciting period of growth and transformational change. The ideal candidate will be bold and brave and embody a passion for community empowerment and sustainability, driving forward our community’s ambition and charity mission with dedicated commitment and innovative thinking.

This role presents a unique opportunity to make a tangible impact, leading our community and team towards a brighter future for all those we serve.

Overview of the Position:

The Chief Executive Officer will play a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction of Concrete Garden, working closely with the Board of Trustees to ensure the organisation's long-term success and impact.

And leading on the recruitment for a number of new posts to build capacity in leadership and drive forward community growth and regeneration. This position demands a dynamic individual with a proven track record in fundraising, asset management, financial management, strategic planning, and team leadership.

Start Date: Immediate or must be able to start by 27th May for a one-month handover with the incumbent CEO.

Reporting to: The Board of Trustees

About Us:

The Cairngorms National Park (CNP) is the largest national park in the UK, covering 4500km2. It is also a place of sheer abundance, having more high mountain ground than anywhere else in the UK, the largest Caledonian forest, some of Scotland’s purest rivers and finest livestock rearing farmland. It is home to 25 percent of the UK’s rare and endangered species. It is a truly unique place to work, with our dedicated and passionate Communications team who are committed to providing the highest quality information experience for our varied audiences, every day. Furthermore, there is access to some of the most beautiful countryside straight from our Headquarters office door.

The Cairngorms National Park Authority is a fantastic place to work and offers great opportunities to grow your career. The Park Authority is listed in the UK’s top 100 best not- for-profit companies to work for. We’re dedicated to both this incredible place and our employees.

We now have an exciting opportunity for a Media and Publications Manager to make a lasting and positive impact to the work of the Park Authority and to the future of this incredible National Park.

Equalities:

CNPA is an inclusive organisation and we welcome applications from everyone irrespective of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, religion and belief, pregnancy and maternity, relationship status, disability, age and social class. We particularly welcome applications from individuals from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, disabled and LGBTQ+ communities, as they are under-represented in the environment sector.

We are Disability Confident committed employer, if you are an applicant with disabilities who meets the essential requirements of the post, we will interview you. In all circumstances CNPA appoints on merit-based evidence the applicant supplies in meeting the essential criteria for the post.

The Role:

As the Media and Publications Manager you will provide strategic leadership on corporate communications and media relations for the Park Authority. You will help position the organisation – and the wider Cairngorms National Park – as a leader in tackling the nature and climate crisis, as well as a champion for local communities and for a range of key stakeholders.

You will work closely with senior management, the board and with senior Communications colleagues, you will develop and implement key messages that resonate with our target audiences, underpinned by the five-year National Park Partnership Plan. You will foster positive working relationships with members of the media (local, national and international), and will seek to proactively share the National Park’s story with audiences both here in the Cairngorms and further afield.

The Media and Publications Manager reports to the Head of Communications and Engagement, you will lead the Park Authority’s press office function and will line manage staff members looking after corporate publications / interpretation, and nature / land management comms. You will ensure a consistency of approach in all areas and a seamless connection with the Park Authority’s digital outputs, working closely with the Digital Communications Manager.

So, if you are keen to be the Media and Publications Manager and you can display the skills and experience listed here, this is the role you’ve been waiting for.

CNPA Benefits:

• Civil service pension scheme – some of the benefits include:
  • member contribution rates among the lowest in the public sector
  • tax relief on your contributions
  • generous employer contributions
  • a secure, inflation-proof pension for life, with no investment uncertainty
  • the option of tax-free lump sum on retirement
  • potential access to ill health and injury benefits if you become too ill to work
  • life assurance cover
  • benefits for loved ones and dependants
  • options to increase your pension
  • keeping all your pensions in one place by transferring in a pension you have built up elsewhere
  • support from our trusted charity partners
• 25 days annual leave, increasing to 30 days with service, plus Public Holidays
• Professional development
• Flexible working
• Cycle to work scheme
• Use of pool cars

About You:

To be considered as our Media and Publications Manager, you’ll need:

• Experience of the media, gained in a press office environment or as a journalist or broadcaster, and a good understanding of this type of environment.
• Experience of delivering marketing and public relations campaigns to engage with identified target audiences.
• Proofreading and copyediting experience, ideally working on publications and / or interpretation projects.
• Excellent communication skills, both presentation and written, with the ability to persuade others to support Park Authority public relations activities and campaigns.
• Ability to interact confidently with different audiences and work in partnership with individuals from other organisations.
• Good proactive networker outside and inside the organisation.
• Initiative, vision and drive to develop the role and work of the team.
• Permission to work in the UK